McDonald's drive-thrus in Korea to adopt Hi-Pass payment system

Don't know if this thread will be any good but here goes...

I just read that McDonalds Drive-thrus are going to introduce a Hi-pass style system. Order-skip paying-go straight to pick-up. Sounds good, and is convenient if you forgot your wallet, but I think it might just be frustrating if there are a line of cars. The part where you stop to pay, gives the car in front more time to collect their order, take this period away and waiting people will no longer be distracted, and will be more aware of waiting times.

Here's the article:

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2022/12/419_341796.html

How many letters in your name?

I have 27 from start to finish. Caused me nothing but embarrassment and a fair bit of ribbing over the years. Even my mother told me to drop the third one...you could have grey hair before you got my full name out.

The funny thing is, apart from people laughing, and me having to repeat myself several times, I've had no official paperwork problems with the length of my name in Korea...from banks, phone shops, insurances...whatev er. Touch wood!

This article highlights problems others with long names are having in Korea;

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221215000416

Anyone else?

Don't know if this thread will be any good but here goes...

I just read that McDonalds Drive-thrus are going to introduce a Hi-pass style system. Order-skip paying-go straight to pick-up. Sounds good, and is convenient if you forgot your wallet, but I think it might just be frustrating if there are a line of cars. The part where you stop to pay, gives the car in front more time to collect their order, take this period away and waiting people will no longer be distracted, and will be more aware of waiting times.

Here's the article:

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2022/12/419_341796.html

It's probably a good way to tie people into using McDonald's rather than, say, Burger King. I only use drive-thrus when you can't go inside, although due to the lack of parking in Korea I can see their usefulness.

How many letters in your name?

I have 27 from start to finish. Caused me nothing but embarrassment and a fair bit of ribbing over the years. Even my mother told me to drop the third one...you could have grey hair before you got my full name out.

The funny thing is, apart from people laughing, and me having to repeat myself several times, I've had no official paperwork problems with the length of my name in Korea...from banks, phone shops, insurances...whatev er. Touch wood!

This article highlights problems others with long names are having in Korea;

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221215000416

Anyone else?

My name isn't even particularly long by Western standards, but I've had a few minor hassles. For example: a worker at a hospital had to call someone else over to type in my name (I heard her lamenting how long my name was), and I was denied when I tried to make a Homeplus points card because of the length of my name (I just use my husband's now). Not to mention name order. I've been called by my middle name multiple times, and no one takes correction, haha (this includes when I took the speaking portion of the KIIP test). The vowels in my first name (written in Korean) also change based on what hospital is doing my health check up, and how they think my name should be spelled.

The Homeplus thing was the only bureaucracy issue, though.

I honestly don't really understand why many Westerners give extreme long names to their kids. Especially when they married to and live in the land of 3 syllable names.
Christina Elizabeth Mina Parker-Kim.
Perhaps they are planning to leave in a couple of years and back home it wouldn't be an issue. But some end up staying and their children have difficulties (see above) every time they need to write their names.
But either way, you're only going to call that child by one name anyway. You can honor the memory of your late great grandmother some other way.

It's probably a good way to tie people into using McDonald's rather than, say, Burger King. I only use drive-thrus when you can't go inside, although due to the lack of parking in Korea I can see their usefulness.

Every time I go to McDonald's DujeongJeom there's a line of cars out the ass. I park, I go in, order my crap and come out and the last car is still fourth in line to order. They haven't even ordered yet!!!

If there's more than 6 cars in the drive thru, just go inside. I don't understand some people. Same with parking. Just go to where all the empty spots are and take one. Don't drive around for 3 minutes to get a spot that's literally 45m closer than the free ones.

I honestly don't really understand why many Westerners give extreme long names to their kids. Especially when they married to and live in the land of 3 syllable names.
Christina Elizabeth Mina Parker-Kim.
Perhaps they are planning to leave in a couple of years and back home it wouldn't be an issue. But some end up staying and their children have difficulties (see above) every time they need to write their names.
But either way, you're only going to call that child by one name anyway. You can honor the memory of your late great grandmother some other way.

With you Lazio! My kids have no middle names. My parents put me off for life.

Every time I go to McDonald's DujeongJeom there's a line of cars out the ass. I park, I go in, order my crap and come out and the last car is still fourth in line to order. They haven't even ordered yet!!!

If there's more than 6 cars in the drive thru, just go inside. I don't understand some people. Same with parking. Just go to where all the empty spots are and take one. Don't drive around for 3 minutes to get a spot that's literally 45m closer than the free ones.

That's because you think like a westerner (at least in some ways).  Though there were always a few who would drive around at Wal Mart for what felt like 20 years or so (forever) trying to find a spot near to the entrance.  Most of us went to the back and walked straight away.  It actually was quicker.  Logic and all.  Only excuse for doing the drive through like that would be if it were minus 40 out and you wanted to avoid turning off and restarting your car again due to cars acting funny in those types of temps.  But Korea will never have that type of problem.   

Though there were always a few who would drive around at Wal Mart for what felt like 20 years or so (forever) trying to find a spot near to the entrance. 

Probably because they wanted to buy a bunch of big/heavy items.

Probably because they wanted to buy a bunch of big/heavy items.

A shopping carts makes no difference just the lifting of it from the cart to the back trunk. 

Here we go!
Indoor restriction could be (will be) lifted come mid-January, bar places where the sick congregate, and public transportation. I hope that hospitals hurry up...I'm walking bone on bone and the noise makes me cringe 

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/12/119_341931.html

Here's another link:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221218000090

Not news but I enjoyed reading this bit about the history of Christmas in Korea.

https://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221215000793

I find this part particularly interesting:

''From 1945 to 1982, the country had a midnight curfew, and Christmas Eve was one of few days that the curfew was lifted. Since then, Christmas Eve has been synonymous with a night out on the town for young people – rather than a day with family or a religious holiday.''

Why was the curfew lifted then? So people could go to midnight mass?

Why was the curfew lifted then? So people could go to midnight mass?

Dunno. Because it was treated the same way as Korean traditonal holidays? I suppose the curfew was lifted on those days as well.
Anyhow, it explains why Christmas is party time with friends.

That's because you think like a westerner (at least in some ways).  Though there were always a few who would drive around at Wal Mart for what felt like 20 years or so (forever) trying to find a spot near to the entrance.  Most of us went to the back and walked straight away.  It actually was quicker.  Logic and all.  Only excuse for doing the drive through like that would be if it were minus 40 out and you wanted to avoid turning off and restarting your car again due to cars acting funny in those types of temps.  But Korea will never have that type of problem.   

You have got to be kidding. Westerners will wait and wait for a closer parking spot. Heck, most people would drive into the store and never get out of their car again if they could. And now when you go to leave you have to wonder if the person idling in the car next to yours it getting ready to leave or is just sitting in their car with the motor running.

As for drive-thrus in the US, they are stacked with cars. They have waiting areas where you park and someone runs out to you with your food. Chick-fil-a is always like that.

And then when you go in, more and more people are leaning on their carts rather than pushing them, going slowly down the aisles.

Better to get a parking spot far away, or better yet, ride a bike. Obesity is rising worldwide.

Hey LI, come to my place for Christmas. Lots of love brother! Always welcome. I mean it!

Only if he bikes there and provides a perfecty balanced potluck-style dish, (Min,Vit Carb/Fat/Protein) that is vegan and artisinal.

This is great news! Now, the people of Korea can get their nutritious McDonald's food that much faster. Mcdonald's provides numerous menu items that hit all of the four major food groups  their cuisine is an important part of any balanced diet.

I know this is going to sound elitist, snooty, etc, and I'm prepared for the flak that it will bring. But it's an honest question.

Why would you ever go to McDonald's as an adult? Especially a McDonald's in Korea, of all places?

I like burgers. I like fries. They don't have to be gourmet. I understand the appeal of a paper-wrapped cheeseburger and a hot batch of salty fries in a paper bag. I like In-N-Out Burger, and if you're ever in Austin, I recommend its superior rip-off cousin, P. Terry's. I like greasy burritos, potato chips and various other forms of trash food.

But I still cannot fathom why an adult would eat at McDonald's. Like, what on the menu do you think is actually good? I know I sound judgmental but again, it's an honest question, because I genuinely don't get it. I don't think I've eaten at one since I was about 15 and even then I thought it was pretty gross. I remember staring at a squelchy chicken McNugget, dripping its added saline content, and wanting to puke. Do you think McDonald's is better than, say, a Lotteria or Mom's Touch? Why?